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Deplorable road conditions leading into Port Antonio have forced the suspension of many tours, bringing tourism in the resort town to a virtual standstill, business operators say.
They note that the work being done on the third segment of the North Coast Highway - from Ocho Rios to Port Antonio - is happening in such a way that, "it is no longer safe to travel on these roads."
"With most of the roads dug up, it takes twice the time it would normally take - up to four hours- from Ocho Rios to get to Buff Bay, Portland to tour the Blue Mountains," said Fabian Taylor, vice-president of operations for Tour Wise Limited. "The problem is further compounded because, on the return trip, we have to make detours through some lonely roads. Heaven forbid if we are held up; we just can't take these chances so we felt it was in the best interest of our clients to suspend the tours."
The North Coast Highway Improvement Project was conceptualised in the early 1990s under the Michael Manley government to assist tourism and hotel development from Negril in the west to Port Antonio in the east.
E Pihl and Sons, a Danish firm, was awarded a $5.7 billion contract in 2005 to build segment three of the highway, 96 kilometres from Ocho Rios to Port Antonio. The Montego Bay to Negril leg is complete, while work is still going on from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios. Work on segment three began last year.
Althea Bryan, general manager for Blue Mountain Bike Tours, said her business was badly affected by the suspension of tours. "Right now I am not exactly sure what to do," she said. "This also has a trickling down effect for Port Antonio where a lot of persons have been put out of work."
Tremendous benefits
Minister of Housing, Transport, Water and Works, Bobby Pickersgill, told The Gleaner last week that while the Government understands the inconvenience being experienced as a result of the road work, "The benefits to be gained will be tremendous when it is all over." "It will definitely improve the quality of life for our people," he said.
Jasmine Brown, owner of the Kildare Villa Great House in Buff Bay, however noted that while there will be huge benefits in the future, "Proper monitoring of the road work would have made life a lot easier for everyone. The foreign contractors have no respect or regard for Jamaicans," she said. "They could have done the work in sections where there wouldn't be this great inconvenience to motorists. Instead they have opted to dig up everywhere, creating this great mess. Port Antonio has been dealt a cruel blow and is now locked down. We are not doing any business and have a lot of bank loans to repay."
In attempts to get a comment from the Danish contractors, The Gleaner was told by several men who identified themselves as employees of Pihl that, "For the highway to be built, we have to do what we are doing. It is either we do it or we don't."
They note that the work being done on the third segment of the North Coast Highway - from Ocho Rios to Port Antonio - is happening in such a way that, "it is no longer safe to travel on these roads."
"With most of the roads dug up, it takes twice the time it would normally take - up to four hours- from Ocho Rios to get to Buff Bay, Portland to tour the Blue Mountains," said Fabian Taylor, vice-president of operations for Tour Wise Limited. "The problem is further compounded because, on the return trip, we have to make detours through some lonely roads. Heaven forbid if we are held up; we just can't take these chances so we felt it was in the best interest of our clients to suspend the tours."
The North Coast Highway Improvement Project was conceptualised in the early 1990s under the Michael Manley government to assist tourism and hotel development from Negril in the west to Port Antonio in the east.
E Pihl and Sons, a Danish firm, was awarded a $5.7 billion contract in 2005 to build segment three of the highway, 96 kilometres from Ocho Rios to Port Antonio. The Montego Bay to Negril leg is complete, while work is still going on from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios. Work on segment three began last year.
Althea Bryan, general manager for Blue Mountain Bike Tours, said her business was badly affected by the suspension of tours. "Right now I am not exactly sure what to do," she said. "This also has a trickling down effect for Port Antonio where a lot of persons have been put out of work."
Tremendous benefits
Minister of Housing, Transport, Water and Works, Bobby Pickersgill, told The Gleaner last week that while the Government understands the inconvenience being experienced as a result of the road work, "The benefits to be gained will be tremendous when it is all over." "It will definitely improve the quality of life for our people," he said.
Jasmine Brown, owner of the Kildare Villa Great House in Buff Bay, however noted that while there will be huge benefits in the future, "Proper monitoring of the road work would have made life a lot easier for everyone. The foreign contractors have no respect or regard for Jamaicans," she said. "They could have done the work in sections where there wouldn't be this great inconvenience to motorists. Instead they have opted to dig up everywhere, creating this great mess. Port Antonio has been dealt a cruel blow and is now locked down. We are not doing any business and have a lot of bank loans to repay."
In attempts to get a comment from the Danish contractors, The Gleaner was told by several men who identified themselves as employees of Pihl that, "For the highway to be built, we have to do what we are doing. It is either we do it or we don't."
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